Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-01-22
Passage of the Interstate Com
q 4n,PrCe B,II.

Passage Of the Interstate Com
sn,erce Bul.
The conference report on the interstate
/ commerce bill was adopted yesterday by
/ the House by a very large majority. 1t
was Goptcd by the Senate several days
/ ago. and all IT now requires to make the
! bill law Is the Presidents signature.
! That, however, will not be- withheld.
There are many who doubt the wisdom
OF this bill, particularly those provisions
OF ii which relate to the long and
road men of wide experience
and unquestioned sincerity believe that
1t will cripple the great trunk railroads
without benetting the people. A great
many Congressman who voted for the bill
doubt whether It will do as much good as
harm. They voted for IT because the peo-
pie favor It, and, also, because they look
upon it as experimental legislation,
which will doubtless he greatly modified
before it reaches a shape that will be sat
isfactory.
Ii cannot he said that the bill was
rushed through Congress. This and SINH
lar bills have been discussed for more
than eleven years. Judge Reagan has
spent good part OF his time since he has
been member OF Congress In trying TO
get an interstate commerce bill passed.
The present bill is not his, although II
contains manv OF the most important
features OF his bill. II is senator Cullom's
bill, and doubtless he will claim the
greater part OF the credit for 1t. The en-
tire country knows, however, that 1T
was Judge Reagan's years OF labor in be.
half of such Legislation that opened the
way Tor its passage.
There is much uncertainty respecting
the meaning Of some OF the most impor-
liant portions oft. and the courts no doubt
will be called on TO interpret these
portions soon after 1t goes into operation.
1t is rather remarkable that an effort
was not made by the conference COM
mittee TO relieve these portions from
doubt. Ii may he il could not do it with
out giving the commissioners a power
which il did not care TO directly confer
upon them.
The commissionerships are very de-
Ablt NhlNtH+ tntN arc hUIt utslIdult
than Cabinet offices as far as compensa-
tion is concerned, and there is moro real
power attached TO them. The salaries
are placed high with the view Of securing
the services of men who cannot be bribed
TO swerVe from the straight line of duty.
There are such men, but will the President
be permitted 10 appoint them? The
III IN faVAr #
clans. or the friends OF politicians. rather
than men OF genuine worth. Will be very
great Administered by level-headed
commissioners the law may prove TO be
much more acceptable than it is now
thought II will be.
The railroads nave themselves to thank
for this legislation. They aroused the
hostility OF the people BY their exactious
aud arbitrary and unjust discrimna-
tons. There are not wanting instances
where they have destroyed one interest
10 build UP another, and depressed the
business of one community TO render that
Of another prosperous.
There is no doubt that efforts will be
made 10 eyade the law. Ii is already said
that the andernilts are prepared to beat
the short and long haul provision by
doing all their local business on the New
York Central, and their interstate bust
ness on the Nickel Plate and West Shore
roads. No other company, however, in
the country is SO happily situated for
evsding the law.
With a national commission and
con. mission in every state, each of the
great railroad systems will require an
EXPERT 10 keep II posted respecting the
rates il may charge on its different
branches. A good deal OF friction may
be expected for while after the law goes
into elect.